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LAST S E R M N 



PREACHED IN 



THE ANXIENT .MEETING HuUSE OF THE FIRST PAKLSH L\ IPSWICH, 



FEBRUARY 22, 18 16. 



BY 



DAVID T. KIMBALL, PASTOR. 



/ 



BOSTON: 

TEMPERANCE STANDARD PRESS, 4 CONGRESS SQUARE. 

DAMF.r, KIMBAI.L, PRINTER. 

1S46. 



Rev. Mr. Kimball: 

Dear Sir, — In conformity to the expressed wish of many of yonr people, who 
are desirous to preserve an authentic account of the valuable statistics, commu- 
nicated in your able and eloquent discourse of yesterday, on taking leave of 
their old Meeting House, and in accordance with their own feelings, the Trus- 
tees of the Parish cordially and respectfully request you to furnish them with a 
copy for the press. 

With great respect and regard, 

I am your obedient servant, 

JOSIAH CALDWELL. 
Per order of the Trustees of the First Parish, Ipswich. 
Ipsu-ich, Feb. 23, 1846. 



Gentlemen: 

I cheerfully submit to your disposal a copy of the sermon, requested for 
publication, in the hope that it will tend to perpetuate the remembrance of our 
ancient and venerable house of worship, when we shall sleep with our fathers. 
With sentiments of strong affection to you and all whose wishes you repre- 
sent, 

I am your friend and Pastor, 

D. T. KIMBALL. 
JosiAH Caldwell, Esq., 
Abraham Hammatt, Esq., 
Col. Nathaniel Harris, 

Trustees of the First Parish in Ipswich. 

Feb. 25, 1846. 



f1^ 



S E 11 M X . 



"It is the last time."' — 1 Joint . 2: 18. 

While these words fall with great weight upon the ear, 
they awaken deep emotions in the soul. 

Were an angel from heaven to announce to us, It is the 
last time for you to look upon these heavens and this earth ; 
it is the last time for you to look on these familiar faces ; it 
is the last time for you to hold an interview with each other, 
hefore the earth and sea shall give up their dead, and you 
shall meet at the final judgment ; how solemnly would the 
sound strike our ears ; how deeply affect our hearts ! .Scarce- 
ly less solemn, scarcely less affecting is the thought, that 
this is the last time we shall enter this house for religious 
worship : this is the last time prayer will be offered, and 
praise sung in this sanctuary. 

This is the last time /shall speak, and ynii listen to in- 
struction under the shadow of these time-honored walls. In 
a few days this building, sacred and venerable as it is, will 
be converted to other purposes. Here, where for nearly a 
century our fathers and we have assembled from Sabbath 
to Sabbath to worship the King of kings, we shall never 
meet again. ' The solemn hour of parting has come. We 
must bid adieu to this sacred desk, to these seats below and 
above, hallowed in our eyes, and dear to our hearts. This 
crumbling edifice, erected and consecrated by our fathers' 
fathers to the service of religion, must give place to one 
more congenial to the taste of the present day. 

To me this house has attractions of peculiar interest and 
strength. Here, in the davs of mv vouth. surrounded bv 



many devoleJ iVieiidy. I coiiimcuced my ministerial life. 
The first day 1 spent here was communion Sabbath. Your 
then respected Pastor introduced me to this desk, and offi- 
ciated at tlie breaking of bread, tlie kist service he performed 
here. I was then a slender stripling, less than twenty-three 
years old ; but my sermons of that day, on ' What must I 
do to be saved?' and ' Behold, how good and how pleasant it 
it is for brethren to dv/ell together in unity ! ' with the bles- 
sing of God, united all hearts, and rendered this house the 
place of my subsequent labors. Here, by prayer and the 
imposition of hands, 1 was set apart to the pastoral office. 
Here, for more than a third of a century have I dispensed 
the words of eternal life. Here, my children received the 
sacred rite of baptism. Here, in company with your sons 
and daughters, have my own received religious instruction, 
and some of them entered into covenant with (xod. Here, 
in labors and prayers for the salvation of souls, J have spent 
the strength of my past days. In this sacred desk have 1 
stood, dispensing divine truth, till the seats, the aisles, and 
the very timbers seem familiar friends. I have been so long 
accustomed to lift up my voice in prayer within these walls, 
that they seem identified with the prhiciples of my spiritual 
life. 1 love the very dust of this sanctuary, the ground and 
rock on which it stands. I love to call to mind the faces 
that were familiar to me in my youthful days, the fathers 
and mothers in Israel who then occupied these seats, and 
who, full of years and of wisdom, have descended to the 
tomb. With emotions of joy and delight I look back upon 
the thousands of >Sabbaths on which 1 have led the devo- 
tions of this house ; the sacramental rites I have here ad- 
ministered; the anthems of praise I have hearct; the revival 
seasons 1 have witnessed ; and the sons and daughters here 
trained for happiness on earth and glory in heaven. Here, 
by prayer 1 have cherished a love for souls which, 1 trust, 
will never die. The God whom \ have served, though with 
great imperfection, from my ^^outli, is a witness: the walls 
of this sacred edifice are a Avitness ; the aged friends of re- 
ligion now present are witnesses, that for the space of near- 



iy Ibrty yoars my }nayers have been olfered here lor your 
union and strengtli, for yonr spiritual growth and prosperity. 
The love, thus enkindled and fed in my bosom, nothing can 
extinguish, short of the dissolution of my spiritual existence. 
Time may roll its ages; this house maybe removed; the 
visible universe may pass away : but the love of souls, 
kindled at this altar; kindled here by prayer, will continue 
immortal as the soul itself. 

The present hour, in its solemnity, savors of eternity. It 
is ' pregnant with all eternity can give.' The number now 
present ; the stillness pervading the assembly ; the fixed eye ; 
the expressive countenance ; the whole appearance, indicates 
that the occasion is one of unusual interest. Rogers and 
Frisbie and the Christians they instructed here, and guided 
to the New Jerusalem, look down from their high and holy 
abode with intense desire to see in what state of mind we 
perform the duties, close the book, and terminate the services 
of this house to-day. The impression, the moral impression 
of these last services on this great assembly is interesting to 
those upon and around the throne of glory ; and it will be 
interesting to us, when the books shall be opened, and the 
last sentence shall be pronounced. 

Assembled as we are, my friends, to bid farewell to this 
venerable house, permit me to pour out my heart in connex- 
ion with such thoughts as the occasion naturally suggests. 
Having the text more or less in my eye. but sketching no 
})articular landmarks, I proceed to say in familiar terms, that 
we should take a respectful leave of this sanctuary, because 
it is an, old friend. 

It is older than was either of its predecessors ; almost as 
old as all of them put together. This is the fourth house, 
in which this religious Society has statedly worshipped God, 
since the year 1G31. when this church of visible believers 
was gathered. The first house, erected soon after the set- 
tlement of the town, stood on the south side of the river, 
near the spot where the ^^outh Church now stands. It was 
' beautifully built, and atlbrded a good prospect to a great 
part of tlie town.' The second was on the north side of 



the river, and near the place where this house stands. ■ It 
was a handsome building, and completed and paid for on or 
before the year 167S.' The third occupied the same site this 
does, and was of the same length and height, and thirteen 
feet wider. It was built by Abraham Tilton, in 1099, It 
was then the only meeting house in this village. It contin- 
ued fifty years, during the latter part of the ministry of Rev- 
John Rogers, the former part of that of Rev. Nathaniel 
Rogers, and the entire ministry, in this place, of Rev. Jabez 
Fitch. 

The present edifice was built m 1749, two years after the 
erection of the first meeting house of the South Parish. A 
brief history of the house will naturally be expected, in pre- 
paring which I have had recourse to the parish records. 
The house was built twenty-seven years before the declara- 
tion of our national independence, v/hen warrants for Parish 
meetings ran in this style — ' You are required in his Mcijes- 
tifs name to notify and warn the freeholders and other in- 
habitants of the Parish to meet,' &c. At that time George 
First was king of England, and Louis Fourteenth was king 
of France. Rev. John Cleaveland was Pastor of the Second 
Church in Ipswich, noAv the chiu-ch in Essex ; Rev. Samuel 
Wigglesworth Pastor of the Third Church, now Hamilton ; 
Rev. John AValley Pastor of the South Church ; Rev. George 
Leslie Pastor of the Church in Linebrook ; and Rev. Jededi- 
ah Jewett Pastor of the First Church in Rowley. 

At a meeting of the First Parish in Ipswich, December 
24, 1747, it was voted that Thomas Burnam and ten others 
be a Committee to take under consideration the affair of 
repairing the meeting house, or taking it down in order to 
rebuild, and thoroughly v.^eigh the matter, and make report 
at the adjourned meeting of December 29. The Committee 
then made a verbal report in favor of rebuilding, on which 
it was voted, that the old meeting house be taken down, and 
a new one rebuilt in the room thereof at some convenient time ; 
and a Committee was chosen to consider what may be the 
most prudent method to proceed in order to take down the 
old meeting house, and rebuild it again for the interest of 



the Parish. Tliis Committee made their report at a legal 
meetiiiiT, held January 5, 1.748, Avliicli report was put on file, 
hut not accepted. The qncstion was then put, Avhether the 
Parish would, at present, proceed to rehuild the meeting 
house, and it passed in the iieirative. At a meeting of 
November lo, 1748, it was voted, that the Parish will pro- 
ceed this present year to take down the old meeting house, 
and rebuild it again as soon as may be. Voted, that Will- 
iam Dodge and thirteen others be a Committee to consider 
what dimensions may be most suitable and accommodable 
lor the Parish to build again, and what timbers and other 
materials will be wanting for the present, and make report 
at the adjourned meeting of November 21. 1748. Tiie Com- 
mittee then reported, that, having maturely considered the 
matter, tliey were of the opinion that a house of sixty-three 
feet in length, and forty-seven in width, and about twenty- 
six in height, will be most suitable and accommodable for 
the Parish. Voted, that the new meeting house be erected 
and built in the same place where the old one now stands. 
A oted, that Maj. Rogers (f^amuel). Mr. Thomas Burnam, Mr. 
William Dodge, Capt. Trcadv\'ell, Dea. Haskell, Lieut. John 
Smith, Mr. John Treadwell, Mr. Thomas Dennis, Moses 
Kimball. Jr.. Mr. Francis Cogswell, Sergeant Daniel Potter, 
Mr. Daniel Heard, Jr., Jeremy Lord, Ensign Moses Wells, 
and Mr. Francis Sawyer, be a Committee, authorized, em- 
powered and directed at the cost and charge of the Parish, 
to take down the old meeting house and erect a new one in 
the same spot, improving as much of the timber and other 
materials belonging to the old house as may be beneficial, 
of the dimensions already stated, and finish the house com- 
pletely, as soon as may be. reserving the pew room for the 
use of the Parish, and to be at their disposal. Voted, that 
the house be glazed with eight by ten glass. At a subse- 
quent meeting, held January 19, 1749, it was Voted, that a 
suitable and convenient steeple be built with the house, and 
that the house be sixty-six feet in length, Avhicli is its actual 
length. At the same meeting, subscriptions, which had 
been made by many individuals to forward the worlc, were 



8 

presented by the building Committee, accepted by the Par- 
ish, and pnt on record. Tliese subscriptions were to be paid 
in mone}^ timber and oliier materials, and in labor, and that 
on condition that the Parish, as soon as may be, build and 
finish the house, place it where the old one stands, grant 
room in it for forty-eight pews, and grant to each of the 
subscribers a convenient spot on the floor to erect a pew, &c. 
The amount subscribed was £4,567 2s, old tenor. 

At a meeting held October 30, 1749, voted, that Maj. 
Rogers and fifteen others be a Committee for appraising and 
numbering the pews on the floor of the new meeting house, 
acccording to their value and situation, and rank them into 
distinct classes according to their appraisements together 
with the subscribers, having respect to their taxes and sub- 
scriptions, in order to their being granted accordingly. 
V^oted, that no subscriber be admitted to draw a pew in the 
meeting house till he has paid his subscription. The Com- 
mittee performed the service assigned them, and made their 
report, November G, 1749, which was accepted and record- 
ed. The numbering of the pews was in the following order : 
beginning at the first pew on the left hand of the front door, 
(the house fronting the north-west.) as you enter the house, 
and so round the wall to the pew on the right hand of said 
door, including said pcAV, and then from the first pew of the 
second tier, as you enter the front door on the left hand, and 
so round to the pew on the right hand of said door, including 
that pew. The pews as appraised, varied from £120 to £60, 
and amounted in all to £3,480. Voted, that No. 40 be set 
apart for a Parish or ministerial pew. Voted, that fifty 
pews be allowed to be drawn by the subscribers, they pay- 
ing the respective sums at which they are appraised. No. 1 
was drawn by Maj. Samuel Rogers, at £120. The aris- 
tocracy of that day chose the wall pews ; and the two wall 
pews next to the front door on each side commanded the 
highest price. No. 2 was drawn by Mr. John Treadwell, 
at £115; No. 3 by Mr. Isaac Appleton, at £110; No. 4 by 
Mr. John Wainwright, at £105 ; No. 5 by Joseph Goodhue, 
at £90: No. 6 by Mr. Richard Dodge, at £105; No. 7 by 



Richard Shatswcll* at £K)5 ; No. 8 by Mr. John (ioodhuc, 
at £100; No. 9 by Richard Maimhig, at £100; No. 10 by 
Job Harris, at £75 ; No. 11 by Nathaniel Lord and son, at 
^7o ; No. 12 by Thomas Lord, liatter, at £75 ; No. 13 by 
John Appleton, at £75; No. 14 by Nathaniel Warner, at 
£75; No. ^o by Capt. Daniel Tilton, at £65; No. IG by 
John Safibrd, at £00; No. 17 by Ensign Moses Wells, at 
£85; No. 18 by William Goodhue, at £90; No. 19 by Mr. 
John Perkins, at £90 ; No. 20 by Jeremy Perkins, widow 
Hannah Yv'allis and others, at £75 ; No. 21 by Daniel Potter, 
at £75 ; No. 22 by Mr. Thomas Burnam, at £100 ; No. 23 
by Francis Cogswell, Jr., at £105; No. 24 by Francis 
Cogswell, Esq., at £110; No. 25 by Lieut. John Smith, at 
£105 ; No. 2G by Pvobert Wallis, Jr., at £90 ; No. 27 by Dea. 
Mark Haskell, at £105 ; No. 28 by Lieut. Thomas Dennis^ 
at £110; No. 29 by Capt. Nathaniel Treadwell, at £115; 
No. 30 by Rev. Nathaniel Rogers, at £120 ; No. 31 by John 
Finder, at £90; No. 32 by Daniel Heard, Jr., at £85 ; No. 
33 by Thomas Bnrnam, Jr., at £80 ; No. 34 by Nathaniel 
Lord, Jr., at £75; No. 35 by Caleb Waiter, at £80; No. 
36 by Daniel Lumas, at £80 ; No. 37 by Joseph Lord and 
Joseph Wilcom, at £85 ; No. 38 by Nathaniel Cross, at 
£So ; No. 39 by Mr. Francis Sainjer, at £90 ; No. 40 Par- 
ish or ministerial pew ; No. 41 by Samuel Wainwright, at 
£75 ; No. ^ by Mark Haskell, at £80 ; No. 43 by John 
Hodgkins, at £80 ; No. 44 by Joseph Perkins, at £80 ; No. 
45 by Jonathan Brown and three sisters, at £85 ; No. 46 by 
Sergeant William Adams, at SO ; No. 47 by Jeremy Fitts, 
at £80 ; No. 48 by William Jones, at £75 ; No. 49 by Benj. 
' Shcdley, at £80 ; No. 50 by Jabcz Treadwell, at £85 ; No. 
51 by Emerson (Cogswell, at £90. Thus the pew-ground on 
the two outer tiers of the floor oT the house was disposed of. 
At a Parish meeting held December 21, 1749, a Commit- 
tee, previously appointed for the purpose, presented a plan 
for gallery pews, which was accepted by the Parish, and 
was as follows : Beginning at No. 1 at the easterly corner 

* This and the following numbers which are italicised, have continued in the 
family line of the original owners down to the present time. 
2 



10 

of the house, and thence proceeding round the wail to the 
northerly corner, coniaining twenty-six pews. These pews 
were appraised from £3;") to £3S each. No. 1 was granted to 
Josepli Fowler, No. 2 to Jeremy JiOrd, No. 3 to Richard 
Kimball, No. 4 to Bciij. Kimball, No. 5 to John Henderson^ 
No. 6 to David Peabody, No. 7 to James Lord, No. S to Ba- 
ker and John Roberts, No. 9 to widow Sittten and her son 
Ebcn, No. 10 to Jolm Warner, No. 11 to Bickford Pulsifcr, . 
No. 12 to Jolm Holland, No. 13 to David and Francis Ful- 
sifer, No. 14 to Thomas Smith, No. 15 to Jacob Leatherland, 
No. IG to Michael Farley, No. 17 to Nathaniel Jones, No. 18 
to Aaron Kimhalh No. 19 to Dea. Williams, No. 29 to Benj. 
Wait, No. 21 to Moses Kimball, No. 22 to Samuel Lord, No. 
23 to Thomas Safibrd, No. 24 to J\Ir. John Denison, and 
JoJui Ntwmarch, No. 2.5 to John Lull, iMo. 26 to Edmund 
Kurd, Jr. Appraisement of gallery pews £92G. Appraise- 
ment of gallery and floor pews £4,406. Amount subscribed 
£4,.567, 2s. ♦Subscriptions supra appraisements £161 2s. 

By whom was the house built \ According to tradition, 
many hands were employed in the work. The frame was 
made by Daniel Heard, father of the late John and Nathan- 
iel Heard ; the staircase by Nathaniel Lord, grandfather of 
Capt. Nathaniel Lord, now present. The pulpit was plan- 
ned and partly finished by Abraham Knowlton, Avho also 
gave the final polish to much of the work. Jle gave his 
whole soul and even sacrificed his life to it. While Ihiish- 
ing the part about the belfry, he took a severe cold, which 
brought on a favcr, of v/iiich he died. His son, a young 
man of about nineteen, completed what his father happily 
began. The sounding-board over my head, the brightest 
ornament of this temple, though planned by the father, was 
vvrrought chiefly by tlie son. Whatever becomes of this 
house, that sounding-board ought to be preserved, as a 
memorial of the ingenuity of its artificer throughout all 
generations. The entire house has always been regarded 
as a good piece of architecture for the time in which it was 
built. It has been standing on its original foundation more 
than ninety-six years, an evidence of the soundness of its 



11 

materials, and ilic raithfuliiess o'C us workmanship.* For 
almost a coutury its lofty spire has been pointing the citizens 
to tlio vi.sible heavens, \vhilc the pulpit within has been 
pointing the worshippers to the heaven of heavens. A'o fire- 
brand of the incendiary has been permitted to inflame it be- 
low, and no flash of lightning to strike it from aboA^e. For 
nearly a himdred years it has been a faithful land-mark to 
the sailor on our coast, as well as a faithful directory to the 
liaven of eternal peace. Its pulpit has been justly admired 
by men of taste from the beginnhig; and it does high honor 
to the original genius of the self-taught man who invented 
ii. It has been taken as a model in the chief city of our 
solemnities. Though in 1747 Ipswich complimented Boston 
by employing one of her artificers in building a pulpit, de- 
signed to be of superior elegance, to the neglect of one of 
her oAvn sons, tliat son in 1749 more than regained for her 
the compliment ; and Brattle f^treet Church still pays honor 
to our pulpit. 

But I must recall your attention to the history of the 
house. The whole central part of the floor, all within the 
two outer tiers, first sold, was originally made into free 
scats for the accommodation c»f those persons Avho were not 
pew owners. And a large and very respectable Committee 
was chosen every March meeting to seat the people accord- 
ing to their ages, taxes and rank. Though, generally speak- 
ing, the people were satisfied with the places assigned them, 
it was sometimes difficult to suppress the feeling, and to pre- 
vent its manifestation, ' 1 am entitled to a higher seat in the 
synagogue.- Then the complaint was not, ' They have 
taxed me too high,' but ' too low.' ' (jJentlemen of the Com- 
mittee," says Mr. K., 'you ought in justice to have given me 
a higher seat.' ' But, sir, you must consider that Esqs. A. 
B. and C. all pay higher taxes than you.' ' Ah ! But they 
ought to have taxed me four times as much as they have 
done.' Such occasionally were the complaints of those days. 
Any person, however, who refused to take the place assigned 



*-0n taking down the house it hears the firmest testimony to the honaty of 
the day in which it was built. 



12 

him, iind presamed to take another, was subjected to a peiial 
piinishment for tlie offence. Several aged and venerable 
men v/ere seated directly in front of the pulpit. Next to 
them were the deacons in their proper place, facing the as- 
sembly, and, like Aaron and Hiir. holding np the hands of 
the minister. And if the good nicn Vv^ere either slec])y them- 
selves or thonght others so, tiiey arose from their seats, 
stamped v^ith their feet, and smote the banister Vvith thoir 
fists, and commanded attention. One of the deacons sat 
near the hour glass, ready to turn it up the instant the text 
was named. And though ministers in those days ruled their 
people, as well as served them, and did both faithfully, a 
minister seldom presumed to pronounce the amcn^ before 
the last sands in the glass were run down ; and if he ever 
did it, it was at \}iic liazard of being cut short in \}i\Q measure 
of grain, granted by his hearers for his support. But the 
minister as often overrun his hour as he fell short of it, and 
then, tradition says, though I do not find it in the records, 
the minister would call on the deacon for a second glass, as 
I should have occasion to do this afternoon, if the glass were 
in its place, and the deacon at his post. The people filled 
the seats in the body of the house, the men on the west and 
the women on the east side of tlie broad aisle ; ty thing men 
being stationed, with stipulated salaries, well paid, to keep 
the boys and girls in order, as sentinels in earlier days were 
placed without our sanctuaries to prevent the interruption 
of public worship by the Indians. Nor Avas the office of 
tything men conlined to boys and girls, nor to the interior of 
the house, for tlie Trustees, by vote of the Parish, were de- 
sired to treat v^dtli the tything men and use their influence 
with them, that all boys, and all perso?ts whatever^ that 
should play on tlie Sabbath in the meeting house or about 
it, or be abroad at time of divine service, should be com- 
plained of to authority, that they might be punished, as the 
law directed. On Monday morning, the boys who had been 
disorderly on the Sabbath were put into the stocks near the 
whipping post on the common. •= 

* In the closet under the pulpit are found 16 rods, used by tything men, being 
about five feel in Ien;'th and one inch in diameter. 



13 

Though the ground oi' Ir-l' pews was rioni lime lo iiuio 
contracted, the practice of seating- the people, as originally 
hegun, continued down to the year 1791, more regard latter- 
ly having been paid to age, than to purse and to civil dis- 
tinction. 

rs'o particular place in this sanctuary was assigned to sing- 
ers during the first thirteen years of its existence. But in 
March, 17(33, fourteen 3^ears after the house was built, the 
Parish voted, that the two back seats on each side of the 
front alley be banistered at the Parish charge for the accom- 
modation of the singers. Those two back seats, thus ban- 
istered, the choir of singers occupied eiditcen years, A'iz : 
from 1763 to 1781, when the Parish voted, that the sing- 
ers should have leave to sit in the gallery during their pleas- 
ure. 

Some time after the singers had vacated their seats below, 
viz : on June 1st, 1786, the Parish offered for sale, as pew 
ground, the space which they had occupied. In conse- 
quence of this, six pews were added to the fifty-one first 
made, raising the number to fifty-seven. No. 52 was sold to 
Mr. John Hodgkins, 4tli; for £22 lUs, lawful money ; No. 53 to 
Mr. John Heard, Jr., for £21 15s: No. 54 to Dr. Samuel Adams 
and Capt. Joseph Dennis, for £18 lUs ; No. 55 to Mr. John 
Hodgkins, 4th, for £19; No. 56 to Capt. Ephraim Kendall, 
for £20 10s ; No. 57 to Capt. Jabez Treadwell, for £24. 
Twelve years after, viz: March 22, 1798, eight more pew- 
rights on the floor of the house were sold : one to Mr. John 
Heard, for ,^151; one to Mr. Jacob Treadwell, for $157; 
one to Mr. Moses Treadwell, for $151 ; one to Mr. Richard 
Shatswell, for $166 : one to Capt. Ephraim Kendall, for 
$140; one to Mr. Samuel Lord, Jr., for $145; one to Mr. 
Richard Sutton, for $110; and one to Capt. Jonathan Inger- 
soll, for $104, These "were the pews nearest to the broad 
aisle, and on both sides of it. This increased the nimiber 
of pews to sixty-five. 

At a meeting held April 15, 1S13, the Parish voted to sell 
the pew floor on the east side of the broad aisle for two 
pews, and half the floor on the west side for one pew. the 



14 

r'jiiiaiiiiiig iiali' lo bo baih uiio a j)cv./ ai the expense of the 
Parish. April 7, IbllS. the sale of the last pew was refer- 
red to the Trustees. '.riiese four made the whole number 
of pews below sixty-)iJne. Thus eighteen pews, the prop- 
erty of individuals, covered the ground originally improved 
as free seats. The only seats of that description then re- 
maining were in the side galleries. INor did all of these 
long continue free. t'or in February '^l. 182-5, the Parish 
voted, that the soutli-east gallery, together with suliicient 
room in the front gallery for tvro pews on each side of the 
singers, be appropriated for pews, and disposed of as v.-ill 
be most for the interest of the Parish. 

In early times contributions were made for the support of 
the gospel in the afternoon of every Sabbath. This prac- 
tice prevailed here as early as 1641, and probably from the 
iirst establishment of this Church ; and continued till the 
year 1703, when it began to be omitted. These contribu- 
tions took place under the direction of the deacons, whose 
care it was to see that the ministers were well provided for. 
At the proper moment one of the deacons would say : 
' Brethren, now there is time left for contribution, wherefore, 
as God liatli prospered you, so freely offer.' The order of 
contributions anciently was this : ' The magistrates and 
chief gentlemen came forward first, and then elders ; and 
all the congregation came up one after another one way, and 
brought their offerings to the deacon in his seat, and put it 
into a box. Eighty years ago it was customary in congre- 
gations generally for persons visiting in town on the Sab- 
bath, to put some money into the box. This was called the 
strangers' money, and was stipulated as a perquisite for 
clergymen, when settled.' 

Our singing seats have gone through various changes,, 
without arriving to perfection ; and various versions of the 
■psalms have been used in the songs of oin- sanctuary. 
Sternhold and Hopkins' version was first used. Abqut 1667 
the Bay Psalm-book tool-: its place. Before 17.j7 Tate and 
Brady v^^ere adopted. The introduction of Dr. Watts' 
Psalms and l^vmns marks an important era in the historv^ 



15 

ol* our psalniodr. Tliis took place in ITlCi. At a meeting 
on April *^5th. of that year, the Parish voted a concurrenco 
with the Chnrch to change the version of tlie psalms we 
sing in the pnblic worship of (lod for Dr. Watts' J^salms 
and Hymns. 

AVhilo rilling elders v.'ere in office, one of them read a 
single line, and all in the congregation who coidd sing rose 
indifferent parts of the meeting house, and simg it, and then 
another line, till the psalm Avas throngh. When and where 
there were no elders, one of the deacons performed this 
office. In later times, tiie deacon read two lines at once, and 
still later, a whole verse. In !7(!i) Dea. Perkins, for the first 
time, and at the request of the singers, read a whole verse 
at once for them in the psalms. At or about 1793, ministers 
began to read at once the whole portion to be sung, as at the 
present day. 

A clock, purchased by subscription, Avas landed in Ips- 
wich May 29, 1762. The Parish, on May 31st, A^oted their 
readiness to receive it into the steeple of this meeting house ; 
and [September 16, 1762, they voted to be at the charge of 
putting it up there, and also of the tAvo dial plates and of 
one hand, and to record the subscriptions for the clock. Tliat 
clock, though I am sorry to say that in these degenerate 
days it does not ahvays speak the truth, has with great 
fidelity measured out time for our fathers and for us, during 
the space of eighty-four )^ears. As it has been directly in 
vieAv from my study Avindows for more than thirty years, I 
acknoAvledge myself under great obligations for its constant 
and faithful friendship. 

* The clock strikes one. We take no note of time 
But from its loss : To give it tlien a tongue 
Is wise in man. As if an angel spoke, 
I fee! the solemn sound.' 

A bell, presented to the tOAAai by Hon. Richard Salstonstall, 
was rung in 1659 at nine o'clock in the evening. In 1696 it 
Avas voted by the toAvn to get another of tAA'o hundred pounds 
from England. This Avas sold to Marblehead in 17(H), and 
auotlifr, Aveighing six hundred pounds. Avas purchased in 



16 

its stead. Tu 1710 the bell was rung at five o'clock in the 
morning from the Gth of March. In 1769 it was rmig at half 
past twelve at noon, and at nine in the evening. By vote 
of the Parish it was first hung up in the balcony of this 
house, at the town's cost, in 1794. This bell being broken in 
its great joy on the announcement of peace with the parent 
nation, the present bell was procured by the concurrent ac- 
tion and the mutual expense of the First and the South Par- 
ishes. 

This house has occasionally been used for . other than 
strictly religious purposes. A company of French soldiers 
spent a night in it near the close of the revolutionary Avar. 
It was filled with those who rejoiced on the declaration of 
our national independence, and with those who mourned on 
the decease of him to whom more than to any other mortal 
we are indebted for the blessings of that independence; 
whom we delight to call the father of our country ; and 
whose memory and exalted virtues come up fresh before us 
on this the anniversary of his birth. It was also filled to 
overflowing August 6, 1775, at the religious services imme- 
diately preceding the execution of Pomp for murdering his 
master, on which occasion prayer was offered by Rev. Mr. 
Frisbie, and a sermon preached by Rev. Dr. Dana, of this 
town, from the text • He that sheddeth man's blood, by man 
shall his blood be shed.' It was filled in like manner at the 
centennial celebration of 1834, when the piety of Dana and 
the eloquence of Choate, were united in portraying the ex- 
cellent characters and worthy deeds of our ancestors. 

That noble philanthropist and devoted friend of America, 
the renowned Lafayette, in 1824, received such honors and 
congratulations as this ancient and respectable town could 
give him. In 1S1.5, it was brilliantly illuminated at every 
window on the return of peace with Great Britain. 

In surveying once more this house of our fathers, what do 
we see 7 The elders' seat in front of the pulpit deserted by 
its venerable occupants, retaining only the communion table, 
and that of modern date ; the deacons" seat, sacred almost 
as the pulpit itself, removed, its banisters torn away in a 



17 

lieatj or for a hciit ; lor the accommodation of a stove to 
Avarm a generation, unable to endure liardness or imwiiliuG; 
to endure coldness, like their lathers liet'ore them; the dea- 
cons themselves once in a lew months traversing the whole 
house to receive the contributions of a few in behalf of some 
l)euevolent object, instead of receiving it at their pew from 
all the congregation every f^abbath; the large company of 
men on the right hand, and of women on the left, banished 
from their free seats; the hour glass destroyed; and the 
ininister himself substituting for a sermon of a full lK)ur a 
discourse of thirty minutes, or, at most, of forty-live; and 
tlie people glad to have it so. And v.iiat will be the 
end thereof.^ What will come next ?• AVhy, tlie house it- 
self must be taken down. !>o all the yoimg people say. So 
most of the middle-aged say. 80 say not a few of the 
fjithers and mothers in Israel. All, all yield their assent in 
a spirit of harmony. And last of all, to cap the climax, the 
J^astor. with stronger attachment to the house than any 
othcn- mortal on earth, but with a love to tJie souls of the 
young inconceivably stronger, pronounces his hearty Amex. 
J?ut, my friends, none of us can think of taking our leave 
of this house with other sentiments than those of profoimd 
respect. J have mentioned its age, as a reason why we 
shoidd leave it with such sentiments. It is universally ac- 
knowledged, both by the pagan and the Christian Avorld, 
that age is entitled to respect. What man of common deco- 
rum, and what body of men. when taking leave of an aged 
and venerable friend, do not do it with expressions of re- 
spect and veneration ? Does a mnn. distinguished for wis- 
dom and worth as well as years, retire from our company? 
who, that possesses a particle of the spirit of onr fathers, 
does not rise to pay him reverence? This house is an old 
friend, as it respects the highest interests of men. Can we 
part with a friend, so constant, so valuable, and so venera- 
ble for age, almost all of whose cotemporaries have gone be- 
fore it, with other sentiments than those of profound respect? 
Though laden with infirmities, and on the point of dissolu- 



18 

tion, shall it not receive this day our sincere and united ven- 
eration '? 

It must awaken among us deep emotions to take a retro- 
spective view of those who were engaged in the active scenes 
of life, vhen this lioiisc ivas erected. 

Our fathers, where are they? Where arc the men who 
planned and erected this sanctuary? Where are they who, 
with demonstrations of joy, resembhng those of the morn- 
ing stars who sang the birth of time, were present when its 
corner stone was laid : when its noble, firm frame was reared ; 
when the whole work was completed ; and when with sol- 
emn religious services, led by the excellent and venerable 
Nathaniel Rogers, it was consecrated to Jehovah '? Where 
are they who lirst conducted its worship ; who first guided 
its sacred songs ; who lirst joined in its solemn services? 
Where are Rogers, and Appleton, and Til ton, and Perkins, 
and Wahiwright, and Williams, and Denison, and more 
than seventy others, who with their respective families first 
took possession of the pews of this house, and there first 
listened to the words of eternal life ? Gone, without a soli- 
tary exception, to the world of spirits. And since their de- 
parture what has been seen here but troops of pilgrims on 
their way to eternity? Since this house was erected, at 
least two thousand persons, while connected with this Soci- 
ety, have gone to their account. I have conversed and wor- 
shipped Avith those Avho saw the former house, and who re- 
joiced when the foundations of this then new one were laid. 
But not one of them remains among us : not one of them 
exists on earth. Where are the men to mingle their tears of 
joy and sorrow, in remembrance of the time when this sa- 
cred structure, founded on a rock, fit emblem of the Rock of 
Ages on which the Christian Church ever rests, was built, 
and in consideration of the fact, that henceforth it is no 
more? 

We should take a respectful leave of this house on account 
of the good it has done. 

Of this good, our present conceptions are very inadequate. 
It is not confined to earth and time. Its grand results, eter- 



19 

uity alone can disclose. Ilciv. three generations of men 
have assembled to pay their honors to the Most High, and 
learn the way to heaven. Here, on live thousand Sabbaths 
have they met to hsten to the gospel's joyful sound, and to 
ofler the incense of devotion. Here, from this sacred desk, 
on the Lord's day and on other days, not less than eleven 
thousand times have Christ's ambassadors proclaimed the 
messages of grace and salvation. For some tunc after this 
house was built, there Avas a weekly Thursday lecture, to 
which succeeded a monthly lecture in 1753, attended by 
members of the courts, when in session. Here, full twenty- 
two thousand times have our fathers and we called on the 
name of the Lord in prayer. In this sacred temple have the 
high praises of d'od been sung full twenty-eight thousand 
times. Here, around the sacramental board, have professing 
friends of Jesus, at no less than eight hundred and thirty 
precious seasons, commemorated the dying love of their Re- 
deemer; deacons Williams, and Perkins, and Low, and Crock- 
er, and Story, and Lord, and Knowlton, and Haskell, and 
others, officially distributing the sacramental elements. Here, 
baptism has been administered to two thousand and four 
hundred individuals. Here, four hundred persons have en- 
tered into covenant with God; the young with joy, that/they 
might devote their whole lives to their Maker, and the aged 
with regret, that they did not earlier johi themselves to God 
and to his people. Here, occasionally have the precious re- 
mains of some dear friend, accompanied by mourning rela- 
tives, tarried a sad and solemn hour, on their way to the si- 
lent grave, while the minister of the sanctuary commended 
the bereaved to the God of all grace, and endeavored to 
administer to them the balm of consolation. Here, too, have 
been seen the steps, if not heard the voice of the bridegroom 
and the voice of the bride, after their hands and their desti- 
nies have been miited in virtuous wedlock. Here, in former 
times, children assembled in joyful troops to be instructed 
by their Pastor in ' the chief end of man.'' Here, have the 
teachers and the members of the Sabbath school met togeth- 
er to impart and to receive that instruction which is adapted 



20 

to guide them safely to heaven. Here, have inmisters of 
Christ been solemnly consecrated to the pastoral oliice. 
Here, the most high Ciod has taken up his gracious abode. 
Here, he has poured out his Holy (Spirit. The sacred influence 
in the days of oiu- fathers and in our day has been like the 
dew of Hermon, like the dew that descended on the moun- 
tains of Zion, where God commanded his blessing, even life 
forever more. Here, from generation to generation he has 
met his people and blessed them. Gracious and glorious 
things have been done in tliis house of our God. Glorious 
things also have boon spoken of lier. ( U" this our Zion it 
has been said on earth, and it will be said in heaven, and, I 
doubt not, that it is said there to-day, • This and that man 
was born there.' 

AVho, what mortal, what immortal creature can estimate 
the good, in the formation of character, in the happiness of 
this life, and during an endless state, resulting from services 
performed here I 'j'he influence this house has exerted, is 
not confined to those who remain among us, and Avho have 
died in this place. Hundreds, who in early life worshipped 
here, who received the rudimoiUs of their religious education 
at this sanctuary, liaA'e gone into various parts of our coun- 
try, where their influence, as it jespects the conmion good of 
society and the cause of Christianity ; as it respects the pres- 
ent an.d the future welfare of men, is both powerful and 
happy. Wliat part of New England or of our country do 
you visit without meeting some, who remember, with grati- 
jtude to God, this ancient sanctuary as the seat of their early 
worship, and the source of their best impressions '? There 
is great power, great moral power in the sanctuary. Its 
prayers, its instructions, ajid its sacred songs have a mighty 
and momentous influence on tlie character and destiny of 
men. And where is the sanctuary, Avliich, considering the 
number of its attendants, has exerted a more extensive and 
more salutary influence than this? Its sons and daughters 
are in city and country, at the east and at the west, in this 
and in otJier lands. And the influence they exert and the 
good they effect, the spring of \vhich Avas in our Zion, ex- 



21 

c-eeds all our thoughts. ll'Ciod silted thiTC kingdoms thai ho 
nii^ht hriug choice wheat hito this wilderness, and it' a good 
])ortii)u ol" that wheat fell in this place, it has lieen scattered by 
our (hilchvn broadcast over the land, and the harvest is rich 
and ahuiidaut. It is anions: the most pleasant circumstances 
ot" my life, that in most places which 1 visit I meet those who 
had their birth or early residence with us. and who. with 
gratitude to (iod and man, aclaiowledge the hajijjy inllm iicf 
of this sanctuary on theni. Said a man to me; a man ven- 
erable for years, rich in experience, careful in observation, 
and deeply interested in the temi)oral and spiritual good of 
men. livini: in one of our ]io])ulous cities, whose name gives 
weJLdit to every sentiment he niters; ' We always exjiect your 
young men to be correct in morals, respectable in character, 
and valual)le members of society; and we are seldom disap- 
pointed.' Young ladies, who have come to this place to re- 
ceive literary instruction, while they have added intelligence 
and brilliancy to our assemblies, have also received a new 
moral mipulse which has given increased power to their in- 
structions and example in subsequent hfe. But, my friends, 
tlie services of this day being closed, not another prayer will 
be offered, nor another sermon preaclied. nor another song 
suno- in these courts of our (Jod. Good impressions, which 
have been made on the minds of those wlio have worship- 
ped here, will be contimicd and extended, and a lia])py in- 
liuence will thence go down to the remotest period of time. 
But no new impression will thus be made here. rSever a^ain 
will the sacramental table here be spread with the emblems 
of the Saviour's dying love. Never again will any, whether 
children or adults, here be consecrated to God in baptism. 
Never will any hereafter in this sacred house join themselves 
to the Lord in solemn covenant. Never again will the sable 
bier, followed by those who mourn, on its way to yonder 
grave-yard, be borne in hither. Never will a Pastor here 
again impart catechetical instruction to the lambs of his 
flock. Never will another lesson to the Sabbath school be 
given out. another question asked, or another answer return- 
ed. Never will another minister of Christ here be consecra- 



22 

ted to his holy office. Never will another contribution be 
made to relieve the common wants of any among ourselves, 
or to promote the cause of piety or benevolence abroad. 
Never will another benediction be pronounced within these 
sacred walls. In view of the benefits this house has confer- 
red on mankind ; in view of the good it has done, how deep 
should be our emotions, how solemn our feelings, since this 
afternoon its services close forever. 

Here, holy men of God proeluimed with great poirer his 
sacred tri/th. 

Vain were tlie attempt to ennmorate all those servants of 
the Most Higii, wlio occasionally ascended this sacred desk 
to minister in the name of Christ. On this rock* the re- 
nowned Whitefield s]iroad out his hands like the wings of a 
seraph, and with an eloquence rarely equalled by man, poured 
forth weighty and eternal truth, grounded on the sacred pas- 
sage, 'On this rock will I build my Church, and tlie gates of 
hell shall not prevail against it.' Here, the beloved and ven- 
erated Nathaniel Rogers preached the gospel for the space of 
twenty-six years, after laboring in th'e former house almost 
as long, in connection with his father, Rev. John Rogers. 
Pleasant, modest, yet dignified in deportment; strong and 
discriminating in intellect: various and rich in knowledge, 
and happy in his manner of communicating it; thoroughly 
acquainted with the truths of the gospel, and full of love to 
them and to souls; uniting in an uncommon degree the great 
and the good; and firmly sustaining the loss of one half his 
church and congregation a short time before the dissolution 
of the former sanctuary ; with distinguished ability, fidelity 
and zeal, he preached the gospel of Christ in this house the 
first (piarter of a centiny after its erection. The happiest 
harvest of his labors he ever gathered, was in the former 
house, under the united ministry of himself and his father, 
who, a century ago, at the age of eighty, left the world in 
most successful action. Here, the amiable and lamented 
Frisbie, affectionately remembered by some of my hearers, 

*Tl)c pulpit is literally founded on an immense rock. 



23 

for thirty years prayed witli the fervency of tlie prophet 
Daniel; and, with unsurpassed integrity and faithfulness, 
preached the imsearcliabie riches of Christ. A house whoso 
reharious services for more than half a century were conduct- 
ed by such able and pious ministers of the New Testament, 
ouirht on their account to be regarded with respect on retiring 
from it. 

True, the success of their laliors. if tested by liie number 
received to the connnuniou of the Church, was small. After 
the great awakening luider tiie united muiistry of John and 
Nathaniel Rogers, which in the course of five years brought 
1 49 into the Church, tliere was here as in other parts of our 
coinitry a lamentable declension of religion, which continued 
many years. So that dru'ing the twenty-six years of Na- 
thaniel Rogers' ministry in this house, only thirtij-Jive. and 
during the thirty years of Mr. Frisbie's ministry, only eighty 
persons, were received into communion with this (Jhurch, 
botli by profession and h\ lotirr. During the Inst tiiir\--nino 
years, blessed be tlie God of all grace, two hundred and 
eighty-eight have been received. The largest number ad- 
mitted at any one time, since the liouse Avas erected, was 
thirty, which was on ]\Tay 2d, IKid. The largest number 
admitted in one year was ninety-four, which was the year 
1S30. A recollection of the interesting and momentous 
transactions of that year: a recollection especially of tlie 
vows of consecration to Cod by so many of the })resent 
members of this Church, connected with the consideration, 
that the very house which witnessed those vows will soon 
be no more, (those vows are still heard in heaven) should 
give additional solemnity to our minds on retiring this after- 
noon from these sacred courts. 

It should excite in our hearts deep emotion to reflect, that 
our fathers' fathers worshipped iiere. 

Not only have three generations come up to this sanctuary 
on the lust day of the week, but among them were those 
from whom many of us descended, and whose very names 
we bear. We attach a high value to a private dwelling 
which was the residence of our parents, grandparents, and 



24 

more remote ancestors, because it was their residence. So 
we naturally feel a deep interest in a house of worship in 
whicJi our ancestors in successive generations met to pay 
their honors to the Most High. Tiie pews in which tliey 
sat to hear tlie word are dear to their descendants. Those 
who this afternoon occupy seats first owned and occupied 
by their fathers" fathers, will leave them with deep emotions, 
as though they believed that the spirits of the first owners 
were actually present. AVith deep feeling should we leave 
this house to-day, considered as the place where our fathers 
poured out their hearts luito God, and where they received 
the counsels of his love. 

The fact, that viroiy who have iraited oti God In this Jiniise 
are iioir jtr(/i.sitffr h/j/i in heaven, should impart to us at once 
solemnity and delight. Not only has there been an invisible 
ladder, such as appeared to Jacob in vision, reaching from 
this consecrated spot to heaven, on which angels of God 
have ascended and descended, as divine worship lias here 
been paid ; not only has there been a happy sympathy be- 
tween Christians here and saints in glory, on the subject of 
redeeming love; but many worshippers have hence ascend- 
ed, and are before the throne of God, uniting with an innu- 
merable multitude of the redeemed in their holy and sublime 
services. This house has been to many the gate of heaven. 
The foundations for eternal joy and praise to many now 
within the pearly gates of the New Jerusalem were laid 
amid the services of this sacred temple. Voices that once 
united in joyful praises here, now unite in sweeter and loftier 
praises there. Hundreds who received the grace of God in 
these humble courts, about to be dissolved, are now wor- 
shipping God in a house not made with hands, eternal in 
the heavens. See them bending from their lofty seats to- 
day, and looking down with intense interest on their de- 
scendants, in affectionate and grateful remembrance of those 
instructions which were happily instrumental in preparing 
the a for their present glorified state. Is this house remem- 
]>ered, and will it always be remembered with deep interest 
in heaven by all who were either new-born or nourished 



here? Then it should be regarded with interest by those 
who have been trained to piety in it, who are still on earth. 
Their last look upon its sacred wa^s. should be a look of 
filial respect. 

We should feel a deep interest in this house to-day, be- 
cause lost souls are j)ainfulhj inierestcd in. it. 

Lost men in wo have clear memories and faithful con- 
sciences. '■Son, rcinonbcr t/nj jMtst prii-ileo-cs,' pierces with 
intense anguish the soul that passes impenitent from the 
sanctuary of God to the tribunal of its Judge. All his sins 
in this life, especially his sins against gospel grace, against 
precious sanctuary privileges, rush upon and confound him. 
Do hundreds in heaven remember this house with gratitude 
to God for the benefits they received in it ? Do they cherish 
its memory with pleasure, as the place of their spiritual 
birth or growth '? And do not other hundreds in hell remem- 
ber with painful and poignant regret their absence from its 
services, their neglect of its privileges, and their rejection of 
its ofiers 1 Does not their exclamation seem to break upon 
our ears to-day : ' O, that we had been wise, that we had 
thought of these things, that wc had considered our latter 
end ! O, that we had duly valued and united in tlie prayers 
oftcred for us in the house of God, near to which our lot 
was cast, and which we were accustomed to visit on the 
Lord's day! O, that from the heart we had joined in the 
praises of God m his earthly courts ! O, that we had listen- 
ed to Rogers, Frisbie, and other ministers of Christ, when 
they taught us the way of life, and entreated us in his name 
to be reconciled to God ! Then had our peace been like a riv- 
er. Then, instead of mingling our wailings with the spirits 
of darkness here, we should have been uniting our praises 
with the spirits of light in heaven. Do their lamentations, 
my friends, come up to us from their dismal prison 7 Let 
us take heed, lest we come to the communion of their wo. 
Let us take heed, lest our sins in tliis house, our sins against 
its prayers, its praises, its instructions, invitations and warn- 
ins, be to us matter for deep regret in the M'-orld of despair. 
Tiet us tremble at the ihmijiht of leaving this house in a 
4 



26 

spirit of opposition to its last calls and warnings. Let us 
tremble at the thought of taking our final leave of this sanc- 
tuary, where some of ys have assembled for worship many 
years, with all our sins against its gracious calls, unrepent- 
ed and unpardoned. Surely, impenitent rejectors of gospel 
grace will have cause for fearful forebodings, if they pass 
the throshhold of this house, as they return from it to-day, 
in that character. 

I cannot blame our aged friends, to whom this sanctuary 
has been the Zion of their days, if their sensibility is moved 
at its fountain: if tears run down their eyes at the thought 
of worshipping in it no more. I tenderly and fully sym- 
pathize with them. Did the aged men at the time of Dan- 
iel, who had seen the former temple which had long lain 
in ruins, weep on remembrance of it, when the foundation 
of the new one was laid ? Why should not our aged friends, 
who have spent all their Sabbaths in this sanctuary, weep, 
when they know that its dissohuion is at hand? While I 
sympathize deeply with you, my aged and respected friends, 
whose Avorship I have here guided almost forty years, let 
me bear you along with me in the sentiment of a highly re- 
spected aged brother, while he was with us, but who is now 
in glory, that as our fathers left us a convenient house of 
worship, we ought to leave a convenient one for our children. 
Your partiality to this venerable structure, arising from your 
long and familiar acquaintance witli it, and from its numer- 
ous tender and hallowed associations, you will cheerfully 
relinquisii in the earnest desire of leaving to your children 
a house adapted to their taste, in which they and their chil- 
dren, and children's children may hope to worship God. 
What better legacy can you leave your posterity than a 
home in a house of God, erected on one of the best sites in 
Zion, where the gospel in its simplicity and purity is to be 
preached every Sabbath ? 

If tears of sensibility should flow from the eyes of aged 
Christians, in vicAv of the approacliing dissolution of a house 
they so much venerate, tears of another kind; tears of 
penitential sorrow, should flow down the eyes of those, who. 



27 

though they have made that house the place of their wor- 
ship many years, have misimproved their precious privi- 
leges, and arc entirely destitute of Christian faith and holi- 
ness. 

It is a question of momentous interest for all stated wor- 
shippers, Hoiu have you improved your past privileges here ? 
As it is the last time for you to \vorship within these sacred 
walls, it seems as though the final day had come to settle 
the question, Have you improved your sanctuary privileges 
in a manner acceptable to your Judge? I entreat you, 
brethren and friends, to revolve this question in your minds, 
as if you felt that the Judge is at the door. Do you not 
hear the voice of the ^on of God, saying unto you, ' I am 
he who searches the reigns and the heart, and I give to ev- 
ery man according to his deeds 7 ' The Lord Jesus Christ 
perfectly knows how you have heard and received, or how 
you have refused, the counsels of his word and the ofters of 
his grace, durhig your attendance at this sanctuary. And 
he is making up his final sentence accordingly. What is 
that sentence? one of approval or one of condemnation? 
Have you improved your seasons of worship here in such 
manner that you are now prepared to give up your account 
with joy I Do not these scats, do not these walls, do not these 
pillars, does not this sacred desk, does not this holy book, does 
not the voice of God within you, speaking by your own con- 
sciences, testify against some of you, and reprove you for diso- 
beying that gospel which has here been preached to you, and 
for rejecting that Saviour who has here been offered you? 
Should the sentence immediately go forth from the great 
Judge, would it not be to some a sentence of condemnation ? 
My dear friend, would it be so to you ? ' Repentance should 
like rivers flow from both your streaming eyes.' If the doc- 
trine of immediate repentance ought ever to be preached, 
(and when should not that doctrine be preached to persons 
every moment liable to perish in their sins?) it ought to be 
preached to stated worshippers in this house, who are now 
impenitent. Let me then earnestly, but affectionately, call 
upon all such to repent without delay. Have you not 



28 

grievously sinned ill this house '? And will you not make 
the place where you have sinned against God, against the 
calls of his gospel and the strivings of his Spirit, the place 
of sincere and thorough repentance 1 Will you not repent 
in this house of your sins against its precious privileges, 
while its walls are yet standing ; before the sentinel on its 
lofty steeple shall cease to remind you of your transgres- 
sions, and before the ground beneath it shall exhibit a scene 
of desolation, before the last religious services within it shall 
be closed 7 

I advise you as a friend ; I entreat you as a father ; I be- 
seech you as an ambassador of Christ ; in his name and by 
his authority through the imposition of hands in this sanc- 
tuary, I conjure you, not to leave this house this afternoon, 
not to leave it for the last time, in a spirit of alienation from 
God, in a spirit of unbelief, in a spirit of disobedience to the 
gospel. Repent, for God from on high, who in his provi- 
dence led your fathers to erect this house to the honor of his 
name, calls you to repentance. Repent, for Christ, whose 
death has been commemorated here for almost a century, as 
from the cross of Calvary, enjoins on you this duty. Re- 
pent, for holy apostles and ministers of Christ, in earlier 
and later periods, from the mansions of bliss add their ur- 
gent exhortations to the same. Repent, for all the friends 
and followers of Jesus, who have worshipped here and gone to 
their rest, this day enjoin it. Repent, or all the privileges 
of this house, all its instructions and warnings, will bear 
witness against you. Repent, for this sanctuary itself, about 
to be closed forever, calls upon you to turn to God without 
delay. Now, as the last service you can render here, yield 
your heart up to God. 

I entreat you all, my friends, in view of these sacred 
walls and of this more sacred desk ; in view of the spirits 
of your fathers, who ascended to glory from under the min- 
istrations of this sanctuary, and of those servants of Christ, 
who ' pointed them to brighter worlds and led the way ; ' in 
view of the God of our fathers, who has honored this house 
with his frequent and gracious presence : and in considera- 



2\) 

tiou of ilic iacl, tliut lIus is the iasi iimc lor diviuc worship 
to be performed here ; 1 entreat you all to close your services 
here with a hearty, entire and solemn consecration of your- 
selves to God. Let his courts above and his sanctuary be- 
low witness at once the smcerity of your devotion to him. 

To little children in particular let me say : My dear young 
friends, if you live to grow up, you will be asked : Do you 
remember the old meeting house on the hill in Ipswich, and 
the minister avIio last preached in it !■ and each of you will 
be able to say : O yes, I remember it well. On a very pleas- 
ant day in February, 1S46, when the house was full of peo- 
ple, the Pastor preached in it, and looking directly at me, he 
said: 

' O come, before you further run, 
Aud give yourself to God.' 

And shall it, my dear young friend, appear in the light of 
eternity, that you followed his advice? 

Still we love to linger witliin these sacred and time-hon- 
ored walls. But we must now take our final leave of them, 
looking back on what is most dear to our hearts. 

Thou Sacred Desk, ingenious in contrivance, excellent ill 
workmanship, venerable for age, dear to our fathers and to 
us,, where on the Sabbaths of almost a hundred years, stood 
the messenger of grace, ' negotiating between God and man, 
as God's ambassador, the great concerns of judgment and 
of mercy,' for the knoAvlcdgc, holiness and happiness im- 
parted by thee, thou art worthy to be preserved until that 
day which shall consume all things terrestrial, with terra 
Jirma herself. In the memory of the faithful, thou 

'Shouldest stand acknowledged, while the world shall stand, 
A most important and efleclual guard. 
Support and ornament of virtue's cause.' 

Grateful for thy kind and faithful services, we bid thee 
an aflectionate farewell. 

Ye seats, devoted to ' music divine,' your songs more 
grateful than you commodious, with the song of Old Hun- 
dred, a song worthy to be smig in every Church, in every 
land, by every tongue, in all ages, we take our leave of you. 



30 

rejoicing in the hope, that seats more convenient will soon 
be provided, from which more joyful praises Avill ascend to 
Zion's King. 

Farewell, thou Temple of our God. farewell. The voice 
of prayer shall be heard no more in thee. The voice of 
praise shall be heard no more in thee. The voice of in- 
struction shall be heard no more at all in thee. The sigh- 
ing of the prisoners and the songs of the ransomed shall be 
heard no more in thee. The table of the Lord, overshad- 
owed with the banners of his love, will be spread no more 
in thee. The rite of baptism will be administered no more 
in thee. The covenant of peace will be embraced no more 
in thee. The Sabbath school will meet no more in thee. 
The light of the candle will shine no more in thee. The 
multitude who keep holy day will assemble no more at all 
in tliee. The solemn and affectionate benediction will be 
pronounced no more in thee. Farewell, thou sacred and 
venerable house of God, Farewell ! 

In taking our leave of this house, thanks to the God of our 
fathers, we do not take leave of the hill on Avhich it stands. 
'This hill of Zion yields a thousand sacred sweets.' As a 
seat of divine worship for almost two hundred years, it is 
sacred, like the hill of ancient Zion. Here, on this rock, a 
church will stand, till hills and mountains, seas, earth and 
time shall be no more. Soon will another house rise here, 
rise in beauty and in strength. May its glory, through the 
gracious presence of the God of Jacob, far exceed that of its 
predecessor. When God shall come to build up Zion, he 
will appear in his glory. In the meantime, wherever we 
pitch our tabernacle, may his presence and grace attend us. 
May the cloud of glory be upon our tabernacle by day, and 
fire by night in the sight of all the people. Let our affec- 
tions still cluster around this sacred spot. Never on the 
returning sabbath let us forget the place where this house 
loas. In reference to it let us say with all the affection of 
the pious Jews, when, in the land of their captivity hanging 
their harps upon the willows tliey remembered Zion, and 
say individually, If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right 



31 

hand forgot her cunning ; if I do not remember thee, let my 
tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth ; if I prefer not Jeru- 
salem above my chief joy. Be it our care that we do not 
become scattered upon the mountains, like sheep without a 
shepherd, between the time of leaving this sacred spot and 
returning to it, to consecrate a new house to God. During 
that interval may the God of our fathers, who chose this 
hill, as the Zion of their day, be with us and bless us. 
With us may he return on that glad day. Then will be 
heard anew the voice of relisious joy and gratitude. Appli- 
cable to that season will be these words of ancient prophecy, 
Thus saith the Lord, again shall be heard in this place the 
voice of joy and the voice of gladness ; tlie voice of the 
bridegroom and the voice of the bride ; the voice of them 
that say, Praise the Lord of hosts ; for his mercy endureth 
forever ; and the voice of them that bring the sacrifice of 
praise unto the house of the Lord. 

Let us all now listen with attention to the dying words of 
the House itself 

My dear family, for many years I have been a nourish- 
ing parent to your fathers and to you. I have fed you with 
pure gospel truth, with ' doctrine uncorrupt.' I have re- 
freshed you with divine ordinances. To many of your 
departed friends I have been the gate of heaven. Many 
who honored me. as their earthly Zion, are now citizens of 
the >'ew Jerusalem. But my days are numbered and 
finished. The time of my departure has come. No more 
can I feed you with the bread and the water of life. I die ; 
but God be with you and bless you, if you keep in mind the 
couijsels I have given you, and obey them. W hen I am 
dead, bury me speedily. Carry me silently to the place of 
my rest. Lay up in your hearts the instructions you have 
received from me. They are your life. Practise them. 
Then you will be prepared the better to receive the instruc- 
tions of my successor. Let none of my aged friends, who 
hoped that I should live as long as they, too much lament 
my death. The days of my years have far exceeded those 
of either of my predecessors. When another church shall 



32 

rise ill my place, transfer in fall your affections from me to 
it. Kepair to it, parents and children, old and young. 
Take permanent seats in it ; and let them never be vacant. 
Invite the attendance of those who naturally belong here ; 
but xAio in consequence of my age and infirmities, or from 
whatever cause have had no church home of late. Be of 
one mind, and the God of love and of peace will be with 
you. 

1 leave you all with the affection of a tender parent, 
deeply solicitous for your prosperity and happiness. Some 
of you I leave v.dth great sorrow of heart ; I mean those 
who have honored me with your presence ; but who have 
not profited by my instructions, who have attended at the 
outer sanctuary, but not entered the spiritual temple. How 
shall I leave you in the kingdom of darkness ! 

Come, and give your hearts to that God, to whose service 
I was consecrated at my birth, and to whose service my 
whole life has been devoted. Let my last counsel be heard — 
Be ye all children of light — and I die in peace. 

Then was sung Psalm 57, 3 — 6, in Old Hundred, the whole congregation 
rising, and all who could sing uniting in the song; and the services were closed 
with the Benediction in the foiiowing words: 

Blessed are all they who hear the word of God, and keep 
it. The grace of our liord Jesus Christ be with you all. 
Amen. 



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